The new 86-bed, 21-unit apartment facility at Cleary University that was given a green light to move forward last November, may not open until mid- to late fall.

The initial grand opening of the building was slated for Aug. 1, but “Mother Nature prevented that from happening,” said Matt Bennett, communications and enrollment management vice president at the Genoa Township school.

“The weather caused a lot of delays in construction,” Bennett said. “We couldn’t get things up and running for a good month-and-a-half due to the snow this winter and the rain this spring.”

As of now, there is no exact date to when the building will be completed. Interior cosmetics still need to be finished before opening.

“We have been very transparent and communicative with the families and students about adjustments and alternative living solutions we’ve had to make due to the delay of the apartment timeline completion,” Bennett said.

Since students will still have to live somewhere near campus, Bennett said university officials set up alternate housing at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Brighton. In addition, students will be able to use their meal plans at certain downtown restaurants until the complex is complete.

Fall semester classes resume Sept. 7.

Some student athletes have already moved into the suites at the Holiday Inn.

“We had a number of tours at the Holiday Inn for the parents and students (prior to students moving in), then we made sure the students could use their meal plans at some of the surrounding restaurants and made sure shuttle transportation would be available for students,” Bennett said. “We walked around and spoke with around 30 businesses to see if they would be willing to provide students with any opportunities, such as giveaways or discounts, and we received positive responses. We are very happy with this collaborative partnership throughout Livingston County and with both Brighton and Howell downtowns.”

Only those who take classes at the university are able to live in the apartment complex.

The purpose of the complex is to attract and retain more traditional students at Livingston County’s only college campus.

The building will help meet the needs of the university’s exponentially growing number of traditional students and act as a recruitment tool.

In fall 2015, around 130 traditional students — meaning students who don’t commute to and from school — attended the university, which university officials said was thanks to the reintroduction of the intercollegiate athletic program.

In the new building, students will be given the option of an apartment-style shared suite with two bedrooms and bathrooms or a private one-bedroom suite.

“These are not dorms at all, these are fully furnished apartments that have all amenities included with rent, such as gas, electric, water, trash, etc.,” Bennett said.

The cost to live in either suite option is $4,800 per semester or $9,600 annually. However, students receive a $2,400 housing scholarship to help offset the cost.

Of the 86 beds, two are planned to accommodate resident assistants in the L-shaped, 12,787-square-foot building.

“This is the first time Cleary has done housing, so we are doing our best to provide students a great opportunity to stay in Livingston County and seek work here post-college graduation,” Bennett said. “This is also a great opportunity to give Livingston County exposure.”

“We are very excited about this opportunity and are looking forward to introducing and welcoming new students to our community,” Convey said. “This will not only be an opportunity to welcome new people to the area, but also provide more jobs and economic growth.”

Bennett said he believes Livingston County will soon see new talent in the area.

“We have an estimated $10 million to $12 million impact on the community by adding this new apartment complex because new people will be eating at our restaurants, shopping and working here,” Bennett said. “We are very excited to get the students into the apartments as soon as possible.”